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The pipeline has been in the works for years, and now that the California Public Utilities Commission approved a recycled water project, crews can begin working.

Cal Am plans to start buying about 3,500 acre feet of recycled water a year from the Monterey Pollution Control Agency. To move the water, it needs a new transmission line.

The pipeline will be seven miles long. It will start at the Hilby Pumping Station in Seaside, funnel the water south through Monterey, and end on Sinex Avenue in Pacific Grove.

Cal Am spokeswoman Catherine Stedman said preparation work was underway on Friday and construction was scheduled to begin in October.

"It is really exciting to be finally breaking ground on major infrastructure for that future supply," Stedman said.

The project is expected to be completed in late 2017.

Customers are going to see a change on their bills as a result of the project. In an interview earlier this month, Stedman said to expect a 15-percent increase this year to pay for the pipeline construction and water purchase.

WEBVTT PACIFIC GROVE.ACTION NEWS REPORTER CAITLINCONRAD IS LIVE IN MONTEREY WITH TONIGHT'S TOPSTORY.CAITLIN: THIS PROJECT HAS BEENIN THE WORKS FOR YEARS.CALIFORNIA AMERICAN FINALLY GOTTHE OK TO BUY RECYCLED WATER.>> IT'S EXCITING BECAUSE WEWILL BE GETTING A SIGNIFICANTNEW SOURCE OF WATER FOR OUR AREAFOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES. CAITLIN THE COMPANY PLANS TO BUY: 3500 ACRE FEET A YEAR FROM THEPOLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY, BUT INORDER TO GET IT TO CUSTOMERSTHEY TO BUILD A SEVEN MILEPIPELINE THROUGH THE PENINSULA.THE PIPELINE WILL START HERE ATSEASIDE AND THEN IT WILL TAKEWATER ALL OF THE.WHILE PREP WORK IS UNDERWAY, ANDCUSTOMERS WILL SEE MORE OF IT INOCTOBER, MOST OF THE WORK WILLBE DONE NEXT YEAR.>> THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OFTHE NEW TRANSMISSION LINE WILLSTART IN DECEMBER AND GO THROUGHMOST OF 2017. CAITLIN: CUSTOMERS ARE GOING TOSEE A CHANGE ON THEIR BILL 15%WITH A 15% 50% INCREASE.YOU'RE GOING TO BE PLAYING --PAYING FOR THE PIPELINE AND THERECYCLED WATER.